Valve



Feb. 19, 1963 H. c. COOPER 3,078,079

VALVE Filed Jan. 8. 1960 A ltorney:

United fitates Patent @fifice 3,078,670 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 3,i78,l)7t) VALVE Harry Christopher Cooper, Three Bridges, Crawley, England, assignor to The A. P. V. Company Limited, Crawley, England lFiied Jan. 8, 1960. Ser. Ne. 1,266 Claims priority, application Great Britain Jan. 12, 1959 3 Ciainis. (Ql. 251-306) This invention relates to valves which are required to provide a leakage-free shut off or change-over: where such conditions are imposed it is usual to provide a taper plug which is mounted in a tapered socket in a valve casing arranged to be inserted in the pipe line for the flow, the plug having through openings or peripheral gaps to enable flow to be established by turning the plug.

Now according to the present invention the plug is replaced by a regulating component having a head with a circular periphery and a control blade which extends from one side of the head, the blade having a profile or edge running from one point on the diameter of the head down to a return zone at which it curves over to return to a diametrically opposite point on the diameter of the head, the profile being symmetrical about the axis of the head.

The casing has a cavity which is formed by the figure of revolution of the component about its axis: thus the cavity has a cylindrical upper part and a part having a section corresponding to the profile form of the blade.

The flow openings in the casing are below the cylindrical upper part and extend into the cavity in the part corresponding to the figure, i.e. surface of revolution of the blade part. These flow openings could be arranged at diflerent angles about the axis so that by turning the component the blade could cut-off the openings in the case of a shut down valve or could connect different openings in the case of a change-over valve.

With such an arrangement, the circular periphery of the head provides the seal against the cylindrical part of the cavity to prevent leakage outwardly past the component where connection has been made externally for turning the component: the seal between the various fiow openings is provided by the cooperation of the edge of the blade with the corresponding part of the cavity.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through a valve according to the invention, the valve being in the closed position, FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation and FIGURE 3 a perspective view of the valve regulating component according to the invention, FIGURE 4 is a local sectional elevation of a modified mounting of the spindle of the regulating component and FIGURE 5 is a sectional plan view showing the invention applied to a two-way valve.

In various figures the casing of the control valve is indicated at 5, this casing having flow passages terminating in fiow connections indicated at 5 of one form or another. Disposed in the casing between the flow passages is a value regulating component indicated generally at 1: this component is formed with a circular head 3 from one face of which extends a control blade 4.

This blade 4 has a profile or edge 4 which runs from a point on the diameter of the head down to a return curve 4* at a diametrically opposite point with respect to the axis of the flow passages, the blade then extending back to the head and being thus of what may be termed spade form which is symmetrical about the axis XX of the circular head and lying on that axis.

The casing 5 is formed with a cavity which is shaped to the figure of revolution formed by the blade 4, the cavity including a cylindrical bore part 5 corresponding to the head 3: thus the entire cavity has a sectional form comprising the cylindrical part 5 into which merges the cavity corresponding to the profile form of the blade 4.

It will be seen that the blade 4 controls communication between the flow passages, the peripheral contour of the blade 4 cooperating with the surface of the cavity over which surface the profile of the blade moves when the control component 1 is turned about its axis XX.

The cooperation between the circular head 3 and the cylindrical part 5 of the recess provides a continuous seal in all positions of the component 1 against leakage outwardly from the casing 5 at the zone at which the component 1 must be accessible for operation from outside the casing 5.

In "some applications it may be possible to form the component 1, of a material such as hard rubber which would have sufiicient resiliency to make proper fluidtight engagement with the surface of the cavity. Preferably however, as is shown the component is formed by a metal core having the required shape, with a thin sheath or jacket 2 of rubber (or other resilent material) fitted over the core.

The outer face of the head 3 can as is shown in FIG- URE 1 have the necessary operating spindle 7 passing outwardly from it, and as the circular head forms the outward seal it is necessary to provide merely a steady to hold the spindle in the required position. This steady can be formed quite simply by a cap 9 which is fitted to a hollow boss 6 on the casing 5, the cap having a tubular extension 8 in which the spindle 7 is rotatable with a plain metal-to-metal engagement: preferably as is shown the cap 9 is formed as a disc engaged by a flanged screwed ring 10 which pulls the disc on to the boss 6.

As is shown in FIGURE 3 the regulating component 1 can be formed separately from the spindle 7.

An important advantage of the construction of this invention can now be referred to: as the cylindrical part 5 of the cavity is at least as large in diameter as the widest part of the blade 4 the component 1 can be lifted out of the cavity simply by removing the cap 9. In the reverse action the mere fitting of the component 1 makes the outward seal and the inter-passage seal.

A further operational advantage is presented in that the valve can be adequately cleaned by circulating a cleaning agent (usually a detergent) through the valve. With the normal type of plug cock, solid material becomes lodged between the sealing surfaces during operation and this cannot always be reached by the detergent which is circulated for cleaning purposes. With a component according to this invention, because the sealing surfaces are disengaged when the valve is opened (with the exception of a small contact area at the bottom), the valve can easily be cleaned in place. The component 1 could also be so designed that is could be raised during cleaning so that even the contact area at the bottom could be cleaned: this would involve making the upper part or head 3 of the component 1 cylindrical so the outward seal is maintained with the cylindrical surface 5 even when the component is in the raise position.

It is preferred that the parts 4 of the profile of the blade 4 shall converge as they recede from the circular head 3 towards the convexly curved return, i.e. side edge connecting part 4': this enables the component to be forced into the taper by the cap 9 pressing down on the head 3.

The parts are so dimensioned that as is shown the bottom of the cavity is level with the bases of the flow openings so that an unbroken flow base is created to avoid the settlement of matter: thus when the component is pressed down into the cavity, it bottoms on the line of the base wall of the flow openings.

In FIGURE 4 is shown a modified arrangement in which the spindle 7 is adjustable axially relative to the cap 9, this being achieved by making the tube 8 adjustable on the cap 9.

FIGURE shows the invention applied to a two-way change over shut-off valve for which purpose the component 1 is mounted to turn in a cavity into which the three pipe connections 11, 12, 13 open.

Apart from its operational advantages a control valve according to this invention would be cheap to manufacture and would not require precision production to ensure the required fit as is necessary in the case of the normal taper-plug.

It will be understood that the invention comprises not only the assembly of the regulating component 1 and the housing or casing 5 formed to receive it but also either of these twomain components.

What we claim is:

1. A control valve comprising a body having a flow passage therethrough, a portion of said body extending transversely from said passage to form a hollow branch having a cylindrical bore opening into said passage; a valve component having a circular head rotatably mounted in said bore and a blade carried by said head and projecting across said passage and having side edges which extend respectively from diametrically opposite points on the'periphery of said head and converge symmetrically toward the axis of rotation of said head, the converged ends of said side edges merging with a blade side edge connecting portion remote from said head, said body being formed internally adjacent said blade as a surface of revolution corresponding to the profile of said blade, the maximum dimension of said blade transversely of the axis of rotation of said valve component being smaller than the diameter of said bore whereby said blade may be inserted through said bore to position said blade within said surface of revolution, and said head having a diameter enabling said head to fit Within and have peripheral sealing engagement with the wall of said bore when said blade is so positioned within said surface of revolution, said head and said blade being the sole movable valve component parts contactable by fluid passing through said passage; and a cap removably secured to said body and having a part engageable with said head for exerting force thereon in the direction of the asix of rotation of said valve component whereby to hold the latter so positioned relatively to said body as to establish a tit between said blade and said surface of revolution enabling free rotation of said valve component but providing effective closing of said passage when said blade is transverse thereto.

2. A control valve according to claim 1 in which the blade side edge connecting portion is convex in the plane of said blade.

3. A control valve according to claim 1 in which said valve component is formed integrally of rigid material and in which a sheath of resilient material covers the periphery of said head and the edges of said blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,734 Callahan June 3, 1884 850,622 Clark Apr. 16, 1907 1,043,403 Curtin Nov. 5, 1912 1,279,656 Cochrane Sept. 24, 1918 2,872,944 Ludwig Feb. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 623,696 Great Britain May 20, 1949 

1. A CONTROL VALVE COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A FLOW PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, A PORTION OF SAID BODY EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID PASSAGE TO FORM A HOLLOW BRANCH HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BORE OPENING INTO SAID PASSAGE; A VALVE COMPONENT HAVING A CIRCULAR HEAD ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE AND A BLADE CARRIED BY SAID HEAD AND PROJECTING ACROSS SAID PASSAGE AND HAVING SIDE EDGES WHICH EXTEND RESPECTIVELY FROM DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE POINTS ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID HEAD AND CONVERGE SYMMETRICALLY TOWARD THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID HEAD, THE CONVERGED ENDS OF SAID SIDE EDGES MERGING WITH A BLADE SAID EDGE CONNECTING PORTION REMOTE FROM SAID HEAD, SAID BODY BEING FORMED INTERNALLY ADJACENT SAID BLADE AS A SURFACE OF REVOLUTION CORRESPONDING TO THE PROFILE OF SAID BLADE, THE MAXIMUM DIMENSION OF SAID BLADE TRANSVERSELY OF THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID VALVE COMPONENT BEING SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID BORE WHEREBY SAID BLADE MAY BE INSERTED THROUGH SAID BORE TO POSITION SAID BLADE WITHIN SAID SURFACE OF REVOLUTION, AND SAID HEAD HAVING A DIAMETER ENABLING SAID HEAD TO FIT WITHIN AND HAVE PERIPHERAL SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WALL OF SAID BORE WHEN SAID BLADE IS SO POSITIONED WITHIN SAID SURFACE OF REVOLUTION, SAID HEAD AND SAID BLADE BEING THE SOLE MOVABLE VALVE COMPONENT PARTS CONTACTABLE BY FLUID PASSING THROUGH SAID PASSAGE; AND A CAP REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID BODY AND HAVING A PART ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HEAD FOR EXERTING FORCE THEREON IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID VALVE COMPONENT WHEREBY TO HOLD THE LATTER SO POSITIONED RELATIVELY TO SAID BODY AS TO ESTABLISH A FIT BETWEEN SAID BLADE AND SAID SURFACE OF REVOLUTION ENABLING FREE ROTATION OF SAID VALVE COMPONENT BUT PROVIDING EFFECTIVE CLOSING OF SAID PASSAGE WHEN SAID BLADE IS TRANSVERSE THERETO. 